The gift...

I've promised for 2 days now to tell you about the special gift that my sister made for me, and it's period break in the game, so now seems like a good time!

 

You all know that in the accident I suffered an incomplete fracture between the vertebra called C1 and C2, the top of the spinal column, which hold the skull on the neck.  My memory of the first few weeks is very muddled due to pain, medication and the concussion.  I assumed, and had told the doctors, that the surgery to fuse them together was done within days of the accident. It wasn't until the night my brother and sister-in-law were here shortly after my arrival at GF Strong that they told me what really happened.  It wasn't until 7days after the accident, after doing an MRI to determine why my arms and legs weren't moving, that they found the fracture. My brother and his wife were there the next day, immediately after the surgery.  They talked  to the doctor who did the surgery and were told that all that held my head onto my neck was 1 mm of tissue,  and that I was very "lucky" to be alive. To top this off, keep in mind that the nurses had stopped log-rolling my head when I was being turned (in other words, holding my head and neck together when turning my body). They were just turning my body, and my head was being held by God's hands alone!!! This news really made me stop and again be so grateful to be alive! It also made me realize how little I remember from those first 2 - 3 weeks.  So for those of  you who visited me during my time in ICU, thank you for your patience with me as I sort out my memories from my fantasies!

 

Now back to my sister - (Ellie has given me permission to share this story) - she was working in her craft room one night, re-stringing a bracelet that had broken (thrifty girl!).  The cord wasn't quite the right size, so she looked in her supplies to see what other sizes she had in there.  She picked up a spool of clear elastic cord, and looked to see what size it was.  Upon seeing the diameter of 1 mm marked on the spool, her mind and heart immediately thought of the 1 mm of stretchy, clear ligament that held my head for those 7 days.  She told me that she froze on the spot, and spent the next 30 minutes or so just feeling that slender cord, tears streaming down her face, praising God for His mercy and goodness, and for sparing my life.  Then she had an idea - to make me (and my family) bracelets to remind us of that gift from God.  She put on that cord one single, imperfect pearl, also as a reminder that God isn't finished with me yet!  She came out on Monday just to bring it out to me, and to share what it meant to her.  I wear that cord with joy, and it has already allowed me the opportunity to share my story and God's part in it with several people!  I love that gift, and my sister for creating it, and thank God for giving her that moment. Go find a ruler and look how big 1 mm is - you might be surprised! I know I was!

 

Just to let you all know, I am very excited that Ben will be arriving here for the weekend tomorrow morning! He's coming down for our first team/family planning meeting (which is on Monday at 11), and for some time with me! So don't bother checking back here for a few days...I won't be posting till Monday night at the earliest!  And if you live in the Vancouver area and have been wanting to see us, just give a quick call to make sure we're in (you can call GF Strong direct, and they'll give me a message to call you).  He'll be here until Monday afternoon. 

 

Oh, one other thing quickly - I did stairs today!

 

Praising God daily, love, Judy

Judy Wiebe 
Take Note Vocal Studio